Showtime is becoming the television destination to see all our favorite women playing complex, dark, funny and real characters. The network has already showcased strong females and fantastic work from lesbian faves like: Mary Louise Parker and Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds), Toni Collette (Untied States of Tara), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter), and lest we forget, the six sexy seasons devoted to the fascinating women on The L Word.

The newest addition to the packed stable of Showtime series stars is Laura Linney. The Big “C”, starring and co-produced theaward-winning actress follows a “reserved suburban wife and mother whose cancer diagnosis rocks her life, in some ways for the better.” A network executive says the dark comedy’s central character undergoes a unique and “complex [journey], requiring layers of comedy and drama.”

The show was originally titled The C Word. Linney’s Kinsey costar Oliver Platt plays her husband and Precious star Gabourey Sidbe is reported to be in talks to join the cast as a student of Linney’s character.